A typical tourist part of every Bangkok visit is the exploration of the Khlongs – the old canals which criss-cross the old settlements. As Bangkok used to be swamp land you can still find them in a lot of places – especially on the left side of the big Chao Phraya (the second biggest river after the Mekong).

As can be seen the river banks are quite old and nature takes its toll…

First you head down the main river alongside the new developments (for the better?)

past some spectacular temples

and towards the watergate which connects the main river with the khlongs (which are aronud 1.5m lower)

as usual the longboats have some small flower decoration to please the gods in front

and some enormous engines to please the driver in the back…

Converted V8, huge truck engines… Powerful, loud, smelly

All this does not deter the local people to try to catch some fish (usually catfish)

Once inside the canals life all of a sudden has a differnt speed

people live there like they used to for ages – which doesn’t have to be good either as canalisation is an issue as well as fresh water, electricity, etc.

In between are small shrines and temples

and most houses have open air verandas

more or less…

and some are pretty grown in

the local way of commuting

real roads criss cross the swamp land and the river is usually only the one side of the building

abandoned structures everywhere

and shags still inhabited

Warans are quite common

but they are gentle and peaceful

Just neighbourhood

replacement engines

a trader (which really tried to press us to some beer with the help of our driver…)

and again simple living places

 

 

decoration attempts

gathering places

and restaurants

amazing idea to cook in a wooden boat

with open fire

pretty run down

another one

 

the house temple

water lillies

a field actually…

speeding longboats

roots

and abandoned civilization

cleaning up…

Impressive views and a nice time out, but no place to live really…